see red

Cultural  

1. To be or become extremely angry: “When Roger realized that he had been duped, he started to see red.”

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see red Idioms  

1. Become very angry, as in I saw red when I learned they had not invited Tom and his family. The precise allusion in this term is not known, but it probably refers to the longstanding association of the color red with passion and anger. [Colloquial; c. 1900]

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Example Sentences

We are beginning to see red flags that have traditionally marked the top of an asset-price cycle, particularly with a wave of IPOs and a global monetary pivot on the way.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

This breakthrough may finally explain why astronomers rarely see red supergiants explode, even though models predict they should account for most core-collapse supernovae.

From Science Daily • Oct. 9, 2025

Well, it didn’t take long for one of Mr. Insights’, well, insights to make people see red.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2025

Whether happy or sad, when hens get flustered they see red — and so do their farmers.

From Salon • May 15, 2024

Even from afar, I see red dirt covers their faces, nestling in the creases of their necks and under their fingernails.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

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